Chord playing attachment



y 9, 1957 c. w. HAYES 2,798,398

CHORD PLAYING ATTACHMENT Fild April 15, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet l Tutsi IWENTOR. .uo C RI-w. HAYE July 1957 c. w. HAYES CHORD PLAYING ATTACHMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 15, 1955 INVENTOR. CA2. L. MLHAYEs N LH v Lad/Mm AT Ton M Evs CHORD PLAYING ATTACHIVIENT Carl W. Hayes, Fowler, ind.

Application April 15, 1955, Serial No. 501,574

4 Claims. (Cl. 84-317) This invention relates to stringed instruments and more particularly to fingering devices therefor in the form of a chord playing attachment.

It is an object of this invention to provide a chord playing attachment for stringed instruments which can be operated with one finger or a hook to cause different chords to be played by the instrument and is of particular use to handicapped persons, that is, those persons not having full use of one hand or the fingers of the hand.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a relatively simple, yet rugged, chord playing attachment for stringed instruments which may be used by persons desiring to play the string instrument without learning the location of the strings and frets on the finger board so that a person Without proficiency in the playing of the instrument will be enabled to use this device and achieve a reasonably good playing ability.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a chord playing attachment which will be readily usable with all standard makes of stringed instruments of the ukelele, guitar, etc., type.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description, forming the specification, and taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper end of a stringed instrument neck with the chord playing attachment of this invention mounted inoperative position thereon;

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken substantially along line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along the line 5--5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 66 of Figure 4; and

Figures 7 through 13 are diagrammatic views of the fingers which are employed to produce the diiferent chords.

With continued reference to the drawings, there is shown the neck portion of a stringed musical instrument, generally indicated at 12, having a plurality of strings 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 and 24 extending from stringtightening keys 26 longitudinally of the neck in spaced relation across frets 28 arranged in the usual spaced relation transversely across the neck 10. Although the instrument 12 is shown as having six strings, itwill be apparent that an instrument with more or less strings, of the same general type, will be capable of having the chord playing attachment, generally indicated at 30, used in connection therewith.

The attachment 30 comprises a generally rectangular base 32 which may be made of a suitable plastic material, or any other material suitable for the purpose. A cover nited Staffis Patented July 9, 1957 34 has its opposite side walls 36 and 38 secured to the opposite sides of the base by a plurality of screws 40 so that the top wall 42 of the cover is maintained in spaced parallel relation above the base 32. The cover 34 also includes a pair of end walls 44 and 46 dependingly carried at opposite ends of the top wall 42 and extending between the side Walls 36 and 38 to contact the opposite ends of the base 32. Each of the end walls 44 and 46 are provided with a pair of depending legs 48 and 50 respectively which are adapted to rest upon the upper surface of the keyboard 52 of the neck 10 to maintain the base in spaced relation thereabove and extending longitudinally thereof.

The base 32 is provided at its opposite ends with longitudinally extending slots 54 and 56 transversely therethrough opening to'opposite sides thereof and to the adjacent end. Securing straps 58 and 60 extend through the respective slots 54 and 56 transversely of the base and are adapted for releasably securing the attachment upon the keyboard 52 so that the attachment is disposed adjacent the key mounting head 62.

A plurality of string contacting elements or fingers 64 are arranged in spaced relation and mounted in the base 32 in longitudinally spaced rows extending transversely of the neck between selected frets and for movement in parallel rectilinear paths through suitably formed guide openings 66 to contact selected ones of the strings 14 to 24.

Each of the string contacting elements or fingers comprises a cylindrical shank 68 having an enlarged circular head 70 at its upper end. The head 70 is provided with L-shaped passages or channels 72 therethrough opening to the top and to opposite locations along its peripheral side for a purpose to presently appear. The opposite end of the shank 68, remote from the head 70, is provided with a longitudinally projecting tongue 74 lying along the axis of the shank. A cylindrical cushioning element, which may be made of felt or other suitable material, indicated at 76 is provided with a bore 78 lying along its longitudinal axis and opening to one end thereof to receive the tongue 74 therein so that the cushion 76 has its end remote from the end to which the bore 78 opens overlying the end of the tongue 74. The cushion 76 is of approximately the same diameter as the shank 68 so as to form a smooth continuation thereof. Since this cushion end portion 76 is formed of a material having such properties that it will function as a cushion between the base 32 and the finger 64 so that no objectionable clicking sounds will occur and the operation of the playing mechanism will be relatively silent.

A coil spring 80 surrounds the shank 68 on each of the fingers 64 and is disposed between the head 70 and the upper surface 31 of the base 32. Thus the fingers 64 will be maintained under the yielding effort of the springs 80 in a position wherein the cushioned ends 76 thereof are out of contact With the strings of the instrument. In other words, a spring urges the fingers to move in one direction in their paths of movement through the base 32 away from the keyboard 52.

Means are provided in the attachment for advancing selected string contacting elements into engagement with selected strings to produce a given chord, the selected elements to produce given chords shown diagrammatically in Figures 7 through 13.

The means whereby the selected ones of the string contacting elements or fingers 64 are advanced into engagement with selected ones of the strings, comprises a plurality of pull members 82, 84, 86, 88, 9t), 92 and 94 mounted in a guide member, generally indicated at 96 disposed to one side of the neck 10 and dependingly carried by the base 32 adjacent one side thereof. The pull members are mounted in spaced parallel relation for movement in paths transversely through the guide.

The guide 96 is a generally U-shaped member having its base 93 extending in spaced parallel relation below the base 32 and its opposite parallel legs 100 providing the spacing members. Bolts 1G2 iextend longitudinally through the legs 100- and are threadingly-received in suit ably formed tapped openings in the lower face 33 of the base 32.

Each of the pull members are generally similarly formed, and each includes a main shank portion 104-extending through one of a row of openings I96 transversely through the guide base 93 for sliding movement therethrough. The lower endof each-of the; pull membersta're formed as hooks 108 which maybe covered :with aiprotective sheath 110 of a suitably resilient material. :The upper end of the main shank 104 of-each o'f thezpullimembers has a laterally extending arm.112'with an integrally formed finger 114 depending therefrom in spacedparallel relation to the main shank portion 104 andextendingzin a direction toward the hook endI108. .The finger .114 is an auxiliary shank adapted to be received in one ofthe row. of openings 116 through the guide base'96 which is disposed in spaced parallel relation to the row of openings 106. Thus, the auxiliary shank or finger 114 on each of the pull members defines aguide for the pull member when it is moved in its rectilinear path through the guide with the paths of movement of all of 'the pull'members being parallel to each other and perpendicular to the guide base 98.

Each of the pull members -82 to'94 is operatively connected to selected ones of the fingers or string contacting elements 64 by means of flexible lines 118. Each of the flexible lines 118 has one endsecured in an attaching collar 120 carried by the arm 112 on each of the pull members and extends from the collar on the' selected one of the pull members through one of the'openings'122 arranged in spaced relation in a row adjacent oneside of the base 32 adjacent the side wall 36 of *thecover for the base. The other end of a-selected one of the lines 118 is secured in the selected one of the fingers or string contacting elements by being threaded through'the passages or channels 72 in the head 70 thereof. A screw eye'124 is threadingly received in the .upper surface or face 21 of the base 32 adjacent each of the'fingers 64 so that the flexible lines 118. secured in the selected finger will pass through the eye of the screw eye. Therefore, as one of the pull members is moved in its path through the guide 96, the flexible lines secured to the pull member so ,moved will causeselected ones of thefingers64 to which they are secured to advance into engagement with thestring orvstrings which the fingers overlie. -Thus,,upon.movementof a given pull member, agiven chord will result.

In the present illustration, 'thereis shown by way of example, a stringed instrument of the type having six strings. This type of instrument is capable of producing seven different chords. These different chords can'be achieved by the use of the present attachment 30. In order to produce the difierentchords, there is'shown, diagrammatically, in Figure 7, the interconnection of elements to produce the chord B. In this diagrammatic illustration, a pull member 94 will be operativelyconnected through a plurality of 'fiexible lines 118'to one of the fingers 64 in the row mostclosely adjacent the end of the base provided with'the slot 54 and overlying the string 20, and to three of'theifingers'64 in the next row, these latter fingers overlying the-strings 14, 13 and 22 respectively. Thus, as the pull member'94 is moved, by a hook or finger of the player, the indicated selected ones of the fingers 64 will be moved into engagement with the indicated strings against the yielding elfort of the springs 80 associated therewith, to produce the.B chord.

T o produce the chord E, the hook portion108 of the pull member 92 is moved downwardly in its path of movement through the guide 96 with the flexible l ne or indicia-may beetched: onto the side wall 36.

connected between the pull member 92 and a pair of adjacent fingers 64 in the center row overlying the strings 20 and 22 respectively and another of the flexible lines 118 operatively connecting the pull member to a finger 64 in the outermost row, that is adjacent the key-retaining head 62, which overlies the string 18. Thus these three fingers will be moved soas to engage the indicated strings for producing the given chord'E.

A chord Aisproducedby moving the;pull member so as to cause three adjacent fingers 64 in the center row of fingers to move into engagement with the strings 16, 18 and 20. Similarly, by moving the,;pull;rnember 88, a pair of string contacting elements 64 in the center row will be moved to'engage the strings 14 and 18 and the finger 64 in the last row, that is the row remote from the turning key-retaining head 62, will be moved to engage the string 16, and thereby, the chord D will be produced.

Figures.11,.l2-and 13 similarlyzshowtheselected ones of the fingers or string contacting elements:.64.which,will be moved into-engagement .with selectedones of the strings 14%24 .toproduce thenchordsiG 'C and F respectively. The sidewall 36 of thecover 34 carries thereon and indicia scale 1261 indicating 'thechords :whichwvill result from the movement of the respectiveones of the pull-members,as clearly-shown in -Figure 1. This scale Inthis latter connection, it is preferableathat the cover 34-be made ofthe samernaterial as that'of-the -base 32, although not necessarily.

In order -to have the attachment-30 properly positioned above the' keyboard52,- it willbe'noted' that the pair of -legs48 are longer than the supportinglegsifi. The legs 48 are adapted to be placed :behind an abutment-128 formed on the instrument' at the juncture of the head 62 and the'neck 10, whereby the attachment will-be properly positioned longitudinallyof-theneck' 10 and-over the proper portion of the keyboard 52.

-While there -is shown and described the preferred embodiment of the inventiomit' is to'be understood that the structureis susceptible-to=changeand modification within the practicability of the'inventionand therefore should be limited-only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What isclaimed is l. A chord playing attachment for a stringed musical 'instrumentof the'type having a neckwith'frets extending thereacross; said attachment comprising a base adapted to' bereleasably secured to'theneck overlyingthefrets in spaced relation thereabove, a plurality of spaced string contactingmeans arranged in spaced rows extendingtransversely of the neck between selected frets and 'mounted in said base for'movement therethrough in parallel rectilinear paths to contact the strings, a; plurality of spaced pull members mounted'on said-attachment for movement in parallelpaths parallel to thefpaths of'movement of said string contacting-meanslying adjacent to one side of the 'neck and-operatively connected'toselected ones of said string contacting means for advancing said string contacting means into engagement wi'th-selectedstrings to produce-a given chord.

2. --A- chord playing attachment fora stringed musical instrument of the type having a neck with frets extending thereacross;- said-attachment comprising a -base adapted to be releasably-secured:to:the neck overlying the frets vin spacedrelation thereabove, said base-having a'plu- :rality of longitudinallyrspaced rows of transversely spaced openings, arrangedrbetween selectedr frets, string contact- .ing;means:;arranged in said openingsfor movement therethrough in parallel; rectilinearr-paths into contacting relation with the strings, a pluralityofi spaced. pull. members mounted,on;.said;.attachment for movement in paral- ,.lel rectilinearapaths :perpendicularato'gthe neck-and lying -.-adjacent to -one;.side;-offthe sneck, flexible linesextending between said pull members and selected ones of said 5 string contacting means for transmitting the movement of said pull members to said selected ones of said string contacting means to move them into engagement with selected strings to produce a given chord.

3. A chord playing attachment for a stringed musical instrument of the type having a neck with frets extending thereacross; said attachment comprising a base adapted to be releasably secured to the neck overlying the frets in spaced relation thereabove, a plurality of spaced string contacting means arranged in spaced rows extending transversely of the neck between selected frets and mounted in said base for movement therethrough in parallel rectilinear paths to contact the strings and resiliently biased in one direction away from said strings, a plurality of spaced pull members mounted on said attachment for movement in parallel rectilinear paths perpendicular to the neck and lying adjacent to one side of the neck, and means operatively connected between each of said pull members and selected ones of said string contacting means for advancing said string contacting means against the resilient bias into engagement with selected strings to produce a given chord.

4. A chord playing attachment for a stringed musical instrument of the type having a neck with frets extend- 1mg thereacross; said attachment comprising a base adapted to be releasably secured to the neck overlying the frets in spaced relation thereabove, a plurality of spaced string contacting means arranged in spaced rows extending transversely of the neck between selected frets and mounted in said base for movement therethrough in parallel rectilinear paths to contact the strings, a guide having a longitudinally extending guide base dependingly carried by said base at one side thereof, said guide base having a row of longitudinally spaced openings transversely therethrough, and pull members mounted to move in parallel rectilinear paths through said openings, and means operatively connecting each pull member to selected ones of the string contacting means to move said selected string contacting means into engagement with selected strings to produce a given chord upon the movement of a selected pull member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,437,026 Spartivento Nov. 28, 1922 1,553,057 Weaver Sept. 8, 1925 1,692,560 Mokrejs Nov. 20, 1928 

